GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina University softball team (38-24, 10-13 C-USA) split a pair of Conference USA games with South Florida (24-31-1, 9-11) this afternoon at the ECU Softball Field. It was the final two games of the regular season for the Pirates.

In game one East Carolina scored early, when Amber Gill drove in the first run of the game on a single to center field. It would be the only run of the first inning, and the Pirates would hold on to the lead for the remainder of the game. The Pirates had scoring opportunities in the second and the third, leaving three and two players in scoring position respectively, but ECU would not score again until the fourth inning. It was in the fourth that the Pirates scored the second run of the game, on a double by Angela Manzo.

East Carolina's final two runs of the game came in the fifth inning when, with a runner on first, Kate Manuse sent a ball deep over the right field fence for her first home run of the season. The two-run homer would be the final two runs of the game, and the Pirates would come away with their seventh win in a row by a score of 4-0.

Nicole Bacon earned her 22nd win for the Pirates, with five strikeouts, and allowing only three hits. Corin Tassio was credited with the loss for South Florida, dropping to 10-10. She allowed seven hits, and struck out four batters.

In between games, the softball senior class of 2002 was honored in a ceremony along the first base line. The seniors, Beth Bridger, Addie Chlebnikow, Whitney Godfrey, Eva Herron, and Manzo, were given a gift by the ECU coaching staff.

The Pirates put the first run on the board in the first inning again in game two. The run came on a single to right field by Bridger. South Florida struck in the second inning, scoring two runs. The first run was scored after a single to center field by Tassio, and the second came on another single to center field by Niki Trowell.

In the fifth inning, South Florida increased its lead by one more run when the Bulls scored on a fielders choice by Tassio. The Pirates also rallied in the fifth, scoring two runs to tie the game. The first run came on a single by Kristin Johnson, and the second on a hit by Herron. After the two runs, Gail Callinan came in to pitch for Niki Trowell. Trowell closed out the inning with no additional runs scored.

Bacon came in to pitch in the sixth inning, replacing Laurie Davidson. Bacon and the Pirates held the Bulls to no runs. South Florida changed pitchers again in the inning, this time relying on Tassio to close out the game. Tassio would allow no runs in the inning. It was in the seventh that USF was able to score its final run of the game on a single up the middle by Tassio. The Pirates would be unable to capitalize on any opportunities in the seventh, and South Florida would claim the second game by a score of 4-3.

Bacon was given the loss for ECU, dropping to 22-15 on the season, Tassio improved to 11-10 on the year for South Florida.

With the win, East Carolina should advance to the Conference USA Tournament which will be held in Tampa, Fla., this week, May 9-12. An official announcement will come from the Conference USA office sometime tomorrow.